on reserves

[liugan]

Two. I am impressed, my dear mundane. I did not think you would find the courage to follow through with it, and yet here we are, with two applications nearly finished.

Will it last, I wonder? I am not the first one you have backed out on, I know this. But are you truly so determined in this foolish endeavour? Will I suffer the same fate as the rest of them, to enjoy the few moments of structure and setting, only for your courage to fail and bring us once more to seclusion?

I do wonder.

Comments

fighting, even

[resolvere]

[The white wolf approaches him and offers her nose for his hand to sniff. You should encourage her resolve, is what can be heard, but only between her and other gods. Mortals cannot hear her.]

does she now~

[liugan]

[ Well, now. Isn't she an interesting creature? Loki's fingers reach to gently scratch those fluffy ears - a habit, as of late - and he scoffs at her comment. ]

Encouragement is rarely in my nature. And I am not exactly thrilled for the destinations she has chosen.

Something about a respectful rivalry as they're both gods in a physical form, I think it is?

[resolvere]

[There is a soft, pleasant noise as Norse fingers reach the area around her ears, tilting her neck to accommodate him as needed.

Nor am I. The Underworld, a cave, is hardly a fitting place for the very being of the sun, after all. But you have a different issue on your hands, one of, perhaps, having a writer who is very uncertain in their abilities. To degrade them in public is hardly a way to go about seeking something akin to proper structure and setting, is it not?]

sounds feasible :|a

[liugan]

[ He'll continue that gentle scratching for now. He can't help it, there's just a fondness for wolves. ]

You misinterpret me. I do not desire structure if I cannot tear it down. I will not be caged and confined so easily, and she knows this.

[resolvere]

[And she'll continue to appreciate it, thanks very much, Mister Mischief.

So you would wish to be in a world of your own creation? Very much sounding like the Orochi she met earlier... Are you not already confined in your picture journal?]

[liugan]

[ Not a problem at all, he quite likes stroking such soft and pretty wolf fur. ]

It would be preferred. [ He sighs, quietly. ] It is still confinement, yes, but I am not bound to one specific setting not of my own control.

[resolvere]

[She moves to sit before him, chin tilted upwards so that the man doesn't have to bend to reach the top or bottom of her head.

Can that not be less preferable, however? It means there are no rules, if you stop to think ponder on it. Without a set system of rules, would you not be that much more able to be humiliated?]

[liugan]

[ Much easier. His hand moves to gently pat her head, though her comment makes him scoff. ]

I believe humiliation will come with it regardless of where I end up, structure and rules or no. It is of no matter, I have suffered through enough of it.

[resolvere]

[If he keeps scoffing, he may well scoff himself to death.

Is it not enough until they decide it is so? To speak to them so sternly and with so much elocution, you are only going to attract more of their attention than you actually would like, is it not?]

[liugan]

[ scoff scoff hgrk-- /pbbt. ]

I know of no other manner in which to speak to someone who delights in my misery at every turn regardless of my feelings on the matter.

[resolvere]

[Oh no! Slobbery wolf CPR is a go!

Poor Loki. He just needs a friend. He does have many issues with darkness, as far as she can tell, but that does not make him evil. Orochi chose his path when he attacked the Celestial Plain, and before then. Yami could not have been redeemed, no matter how many times she rejuvenated and restored. The sun brought his death and the moon brought him pain.

But Loki is not like Yami, Orochi, Ninetails, Blight, Crimson Helm, or the queen of spiders. He is not made of pure darkness that curses the lands whenever his presence is mildly near.

She wouldn't like him to get to be such a thing, either.

Perhaps you could speak without words.]

[liugan]

[ ... ew.

The trickster idly wonders what the wolf is thinking about as he strokes her fur, scratches her ears. Eventually he moves to sit on the ground beside her, continuously petting, pondering over too many things.

A wolf friend, he supposes, would be far better than any normal friend. ]

Perhaps. Though it will do little good now, I imagine.

[resolvere]

[Her large tail moves to wrap around the herself and the nearest part of him, simply as though to touch a shoe or ankle, but a protective gesture. Mother to all, protector of all, she cannot be anything else.

She has already sent them in, or simply said she shall?]

[exloserspromise]

Are you at least trying to help her? Teamwork can make a world of difference with these things.

[liugan]

Why would I help her? Her selected destinations are not exactly desireable.

[exloserspromise]

Then give her a better idea of where you'd like to go so the two of you can reach a suitable compromise. I'm sure she'd be happy to work with you if you give her the chance.

[liugan]

You simply must refrain from ordering me around, Captain. It is starting to become quite aggravating.

[exloserspromise]

I'm not ordering, I'm offering suggestions which are grammatically indistinguishable from orders. There's a difference for bossy people like me.

[liugan]

Then cease with your suggestions. If I truly did have any say in the matter, I would not be here at all. And yet, here I am. If I choose to discourage her from her efforts, I care not for the consequences.

[exloserspromise]

[Siiiighs.] Fine. If you have no interest in making the best of a less than ideal situation, there's nothing I can do to change your mind. Have fun making yourself miserable.

[liugan]

I imagine it would come with the territory regardless of whether I cause it or not.

[exloserspromise]

It doesn't have to. The place my mun found me, it's actually possible I'll get to see some version of my old friends again, and even if I don't I'll always have someone to watch my back. It's a lot more than I was expecting when she started looking.

[liugan]

And therein lies the difference between hero and villain. Old friends and allies for you, pitiful makings of an army and bitter solitude for myself.

Do not start with how I could have all these wondrous things if I could only change my ways. I cannot. I will not. Your preaching will be best used elsewhere.

[exloserspromise]

No, the difference is I only had to wait twenty-five years to find a situation where I could make more than one real friend, but you've been waiting so long you gave up.

[liugan]

A futile effort it was, one I will not be so foolish as to attempt again.